Baby support



Dec. 14, 1937. M. P INGLE 2,102,281

BABY SUPPORT Filed March 11, 1935 INVENTOR Mary Pr/n /e fi 7 & ZWM

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 14, 1937 uwrrap sTA'ras raiser @FFiQ-E v v 2,102,281 may soeroa'r Mary Pringle, Alameda, Calif. Application March 11, 1935, Serial No. 10,436

2 Claims.

roll from side to side in the bed and raise itself from the mattress.

Another object of the invention is to provide a support of the character described which, while restraining the babys movements, as aforesaid, will permit-the baby to lie in any of the usual resting positions within the center and most comfortable zone of the bed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a support of the character above which may be constructed of soft tape material and entail a minimum number of folds and creases whereby the area of the support on which the baby may rest will be smooth and comfortable.

Theinventionpossesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the support constructed in accordance with my invention and shown in operative association with a baby and crib.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the support shown in Figure l with ,the various members shown in open and unattached position.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of my support with the elements thereof operatively assembled, but shown in extended position' so as to more clearly illustrate the construction;

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are fragmentary end elevations of the support with shoulder portions thereof omitted, and shows the support in several of its. typical positions.

The support of my invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, comprises a fastening strap 1 which is arranged for stretching across and securing to a surface on which the baby is to be supported, a body harness 8 which is arranged for assemblying about the body of the baby and a flexible interconnecting member 9 which is secured to the strap and harness and provides for a limited relative movement therebetween. v a

The fastener strap 1 is preferably composed of a relatively wide band of soft relatively inelastic material, such as cotton tape or the like, and

may be provided at its ends with pairs of fastening tapes H which may be secured, as by tying to the side rails l2 of the bedstead. While in the present disclosure the support is shown for use in conjunction with a bed, it will be understood that the same may be readily used for confining the baby's movements to within a chair, or buggy, or cart, or the like. The use of the device in connection with an upright support, such as a chair, is normally efiected by the connection of the fastening strap 1 across the back of the chair and to a rung beneath the seat while when the device is used for maintaining the child on a generally horizontal surface, such as a bed or the like, the strap 1 is usually drawn across the surface in underlying relation with respect to the child.

The body harness 8 is composed of essentially a body band l2 which is arranged to encircle the waist of the baby, and a pair of shoulder str'aps i3 which are sewn or otherwise secured at their ends it to the body band, and which are arranged to extend fromone side of the babys body over the shoulders at opposite sides of the neck to the body band at the opposite side of the babys body. The freeends l5 of the straps i3, as well as the free ends iS'of the body band, may, as here shown, be conveniently joined together to secure the harness inplace about the I baby by means of a safety pin ll or the like. Preferably, the body band is of a relatively wide width similar to the fastening strap 1, while the shoulder straps may be formed of relatively narrower strips. As will be clear from Figures 1 and 3 of the drawing, the baby may be positioned in the harness so as to dispose the free ends of half of the. height of the enclosure.

sewing, to these members adjacent the center of the strap 1 and adjacent the center of the band i! intermediate the ends I 4 of the shoulder straps. One of the important features of the present construction is that no other ties or connecting members are used which mayinterfere with'the free movement of the member 9, and the latter is so secured with respect to the other members and of such a length as to provide for the improved functioning of my support. In view of the connection of the member 9 to the midportions of both the fastening strap and the body band, it will be clear that the baby may lie at the center of the bed either face up or face down depending upon its position in the harness,

and that in such position, as will be clear from Figure 4. the interconnecting member 9 is folded fiat between the fastening strap and band and with its ends disposed one directly vertically over the other. In this position, it will be clear that the baby may raise itself vertically from the bed a distance equal to the length of the member 9, or the baby may maintain its resting position and without turning shift to either side of the center of the bed. This latter feature is of considerable importance, since, as will be understood, most mattresses after being used are not strictly uniform over their surface, and a certain amount of shifting of the body is usually required to find a most comfortable mattress contour. Usually such a contour is either directly at or adjacent to the middle of the mattress, and in accordance with my support, the baby may, while lying on its back or face down, shift sidewise over the central center portion of the mattress until comfortable.

As will be clear from Figures 5 and 6, the baby may in addition to shifting sidewise or raising vertically from a center position roll to lie on either side, without removing itself materially from the center of the bed. To accomplish this, I prefer to form the member I of a length which is substantially equal to the normal radius of the encircling body band. While, as will be understood, the body band may not assume a perfectly circular. position, the member may be conveniently considered as the approximate radius of the enclosure, or in another sense substantially Thus, the baby is permitted to roll from its back or stomach position a quarter turn either to the left or to the right, as shown in Figures, and 6-respectively. Also, as will be understood. since the length of the member I is confined to substantially the radius of the body band rather than to a longer length, such as for instance a quarter of the circumference of the band which would likewise afford a quarter turn, the baby in turning is drawn slightly back towards the center of the bed, since the shortness of the member ldraws the ends thereof in a quarter turned position into vertical relation, rather than permitting them to lie in circumferential relation were the member longer. Not only is the baby thus enabled to lie over on its back, stomach or either side adjacent the middle of the bed, but the precise length of the member 9 positively prevents milling and entangling of the members, as has been found to be the case where this member was of a substan- I tially longer length.

. In case it is desirable, by reason of illness or an injury or the like, to prevent the baby from turning from a certain position, it is only neces sary to attach the body'band. and fastening strap together at a further point other than the conmeeting member 9. Thus, where it is required that the baby lie face up or face down, a pair of rows of stitches, such as indicated by the dotted lines 2| of Figure 4, may be used to secure the band and fastening strap together. On the other hand, where the baby-is to lie only on its right or left side. a row of stitches, such as indicated bythe dotted line 22 of Figure 5 or the out discomfort, said tie secured to said strap and to the band at the said intermediate portion thereof, whereby with the baby resting on its I back it may without turning shift sidewise to either side of a vertically aligned position of the secured points of said tie and strap..

2. A baby support comprising a strap adapted to be secured to a support'for supporting the baby when in a lying-down position, a body band adapted to encircle the waist of the baby and having an intermediate portion arranged to engage the back of the baby's body, and a flexible restraining tie ofsuch relatively thin material as to'oflfer no discomfort to the baby when lying thereon secured to said strap adjacent the center thereof and to said band at said intermediate portion, said .tie being of a length substantially equal to the radius of the circumference of said band whereby with the baby resting on its back it may without turning shift sidewise to either side of a vertically aligned position of the secured points of said band and strap, or the baby may be permitted by such connection to turn so as to rest upon either side of the body without discomfort.

MARY PRINGLE. 

